MPs demand new trains, more passenger amenities

Members of Parliament from Madurai and Tiruchirapalli railway divisions implored more new trains and passenger amenities, during the meeting with Southern Railway general manager, R K Kulshrestha, held here on Saturday.


MPs from constituencies falling under the jurisdiction of Madurai and Tiruchirapalli divisions, divisional railway manager, Neenu Ittyerah (Madurai) and Uday Kumar Reddy (Tiruchirapalli) and principal heads of departments from Southern Railway attended the meeting.
According to a statement from railways, general manager appraised the MPs about several important works completed by Madurai and Tiruchirappalli divisions, such as passenger amenity works, introduction of new train services, extension of trains and additional stoppages provided. He also said the elevator at Dindigul and Madurai along with foot overbridges, new waiting halls at Rameswaram and additional platform shelter at Tuticorin, Kovilpatti, Tirunelveli and improvement at Punalur, Kottarakara and Kundara will be provided soon. Work has also been proposed for the foot overbridge at Avaneeswaram and extension of platform on the Kollam - Punalur section to accommodate 18 coaches.
During the meeting, Kollam MP, N.K. Premachandran, reiterated the need to complete the gauge conversion work between Edaman and New Aryankavu and reintroduce trains which were used to run prior to gauge conversion, over this section. Ramanathapuram MP, Anwhar Raajhaa, requested the railways to provide stoppage of Ayodhya Express at Ramanathapuram. He also wanted the railways to run additional trains from Rameswaram, especially between Coimbatore and Rameswaram. Sivaganga MP, Senthilnathan wanted to be updated on the progress of new line project within his constituency and requested for a frequency of Silambu Express to be increased.
Responding to requests of MPs, Kulshrestha stated that with the commissioning of double line work on the Madurai - Maniyachi - Tuticorin and Maniyachi - Nagecoil - Kanyakumari -Thiruvananthapuram sections would help meet several of their demands for operation of additional trains. He also assured that their demands will be looked into. When MPs from Tiruchirapalli railway division interacted, Thanjavur MP, K Parasuraman, offered to provide battery operated car worth Rs 12 lakh from his fund. He also requested the provision of escalator facility at Thanjavur station. He also announced that as per the request put forth by the MPs, train no. 16233/34 Mayiladuturai to Trichy Express will be restored from February this year.

Source